Theaters in this post

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The lobby of the Plaza Theatre at Country Club Plaza in Kansas City is now a Restoration Hardware (!). Some of the original layout and some of the decorative plasterwork is still evident (though all painted pristine white).
And it appears that the original stagehouse is now a gym …

In Seattle Banana Republic converted the Coliseum Theatre into retail. In Pasadena, California the Pasadena Theatre was converted into a Gap store and in NYC the former Time Square Theatre is being converted into retail.

I think these retail installations can serve a purpose if they value the old theater venue they take over.

For example, years ago, Bookstar book sellers took over the exquisite Belle Meade suburban theater [circa 1938] in Nashville. They gutted the auditorium, but kept the mirrored ceiling lobby much like it was originally. They also preserved the amazing sign, the marquee, etc. This preserved the facade for more than a decade. A few years ago, Bookstar itself went under, and the theater was again vacant. The present plan is to preserve the facade of the theater and built a grandiose building behind it.

My point is that if a thinking retail outlet had not moved into the space, NONE of the Belle Meade would exist today.

The facade of the Belle Meade is a magnificent example of the suburban theater of the 1930s. At least that much as benn preserved.

If you go to www.urbanoutfitters.com you can click on the State of South Carolina and the Garden Theatre location will come up as it is the only Urban Outfitters store listed for SC. I wonder how they reconfigured the interior to accommodate the store’s layout?